Powered Subwoofer

You have your smashing home theater system, thinking that now you can enjoy the ambience of the theater without having to sit up straight on a straight backed chair. However something does not feel right about the sound – the theaters seem to be able to emanate such low and rending tones that fizzle right through you! The little difference is made by a subwoofer, a type of speaker responsible for reproducing those bass notes which make all the difference in the world.

Many might not be aware of the generic differences between a subwoofer and a speaker. A subwoofer is a specialized speaker that is designed to reproduce the lowest of low frequencies in the audible range. If your home theater system has all the components to reproduce accurately the main soundtracks and dialogues, then a subwoofer is needed so that the lowest bass notes are not cancelled out. So now you know about the missing link in your home theater system! This will allow you to have a theater ambience right in your very home. Although yours will probably be a much toned down one built specifically for home use, you yourself will feel the difference when even a small subwoofer comes into play!

Subwoofers come in two varieties: passive and powered. Passive subwoofers need to attain power from an external amplifier source much like the other kinds of speakers in your system do. However reproducing the lowest notes of bass actually require more power than that required by the other speakers, so your amplifier needs to be able to produce that much energy output such that the effects are produced without completely eating up all the power in the amplifier. This also depends on the how much power the speakers need and how many you have.

The other kind is the powered subwoofers. These are the latest inventions that eliminate the problems caused by power insufficiencies and problems. Powered subwoofers are designed such that they have in-built / self-contained amplifier systems for power arrangements. A single line output from an external amplifier is all you need to complete the picture. This kind of arrangements allows the amplifier to allocate power more optimally.

Subwoofers also come with different additional features such as Front-firing , down-firing and port or passive radiators. Front-firing subwoofers are such that the sound is reflected and radiated from the front and side portions of the subwoofer physical structure. Down-firing subwoofers rapidly deploy sound in the downwards direction. Many have additional ports which ensure added bass output by producing more outlet of air. A passive radiator in the place of this port enhances the efficiency even more.

Any well-functioning subwoofer will contain a crossover frequency of 100Hz. Crossover refers to the electronic circuit that de-routes all the frequencies below 100Hz to the subwoofer. All frequencies above 100Hz are de-routed to the main, center and surround speakers. This also enhances the effect of surround sound created by deep-bass frequencies that are at or below the regular audible range, because of the non-directional motion. Thus, placing the subwoofer anywhere in the room will give the required function.

Subwoofers can also come with many other additional features. For example the Paradigm DSP-3400 subwoofer is known especially for its tight and compact bass even in the case of Blu-Ray sound tracks with LFE effects. At MRP $899, this has been voted a best buy. The SVS SB12 plus powered subwoofer too, has been a list-topper with its front firing features. The crossover parameters can be varied from 40Hz to 120 Hz.

While the subwoofers come with many features, often the most basic will provide you with the experience you demand. However you must also remember that the smallest of differences in the adjustment of the features, a little addition here or there, can multiply and enhance the output like never before, giving you more that he experience that you demand!

This Powered Subwoofer Review is Written/Updated
on Sep 12th, 2010 and filed under Consumer Electronics.
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